Avid angler supports leaving Cascade-Siskiyou monument intact

As a wildlife biologist, passionate angler, and president of the Blueback Chapter of Trout Unlimited, I commend the Statesman Journal for making the case that President Donald Trump's administration should keep the current boundaries of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument intact (March 22).

My work takes me across the western United States where I often find myself in a helicopter with a birds-eye view of our public lands and some of the many valuable benefits they provide. (This includes) high-quality habitat for fish and wildlife, sources of clean water for people and cold-water fisheries, and a variety of roads and trails for public access.

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument provides all of these benefits, in spades. It harbors an incredible array of plants, wildlife, and geology, including a unique sub-species of native redband trout (and angling opportunities) in upper Jenny Creek.

The remarkable biodiversity, scenic landscapes, and recreational opportunities found here are certainly worthy of national monument designation. The Trump administration should leave this monument alone.